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  Singapore Business Times 31 Mar 06
New Singapore diving hotspot in the pipeline
By Sim Ping Khuan

Today Online 31 Mar 06
Preserving undersea treasures
Cheow Xin Yi

Channel NewsAsia 30 Mar 06
Singapore Underwater Federation to build coral reef at Pulau Hantu
By Sharon See, Channel NewsAsia

The Straits Times 31 Mar 06
First step to create marine sanctuary on Pulau Hantu
by Tania Tan

CONSERVATIONISTS hoping to create a marine sanctuary on Pulau Hantu have embarked on the first step - taking an underwater census of the marine and coral life around the southern islet.

As one of the few dive sites open to the public, the 12.4ha Pulau Hantu was chosen because of its size which would allow it to support the proposed sanctuary.

The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) yesterday announced the launch of Project Noah (Nurturing Our Aquatic Heritage), the largest census of marine biodiversity undertaken here.

The environmental stocktaking of about 32 sq km along the perimeter of Pulau Hantu begins in May and will involve up to 20 volunteer divers and almost 400 individual dives. It will take up to six months for divers to survey the area around Pulau Hantu, a popular haunt for campers and snorkelers about 15 minutes by speedboat south-east of Sentosa.

Explaining the importance of the census, Mr Sydney Chew, an avid diver who conceived the project, said: 'We need to know what we have before we know what to protect.' Mr Chew, 43, said he had 'dreamed of showcasing Singapore's rich marine biodiversity.'

At a media conference yesterday, he appealed for volunteer divers and corporate sponsors. 'We hope that we can help shape the future of these reefs.' said the former president of the Singapore Underwater Federation.

The divers, however, face a difficult task because of poor visibility caused by silt suspended in the water. It can be so bad that 'you have to bump into coral to notice them', said Project Noah manager Spencer Lewis.

Plans are under way to create a simple sand filtration system to eliminate most of the sediment from the water flowing into the lagoon, creating a clear water habitat.

The SEC's $100,000 census is the first phase of what it hopes will lead to the creation of a marine sanctuary nestled within the lagoon of Pulau Hantu.

Phases two and three will involve a similar census of other reefs scattered around Singapore and the long-term implementation of programmes to educate the public.

Mr Chew emphasised that 'the lagoon isn't just for divers', saying: 'It's for anyone who wants to get wet and enjoy our marine life.'

Also speaking at the media conference, the president of the Nature Society of Singapore, Nominated Member of Parliament Geh Min, lauded the effort. She said a nation's 'true progress' is measured by how well it balances its natural heritage with industrial development.

'Project Noah is an attempt to show that we can have it all - a successful port, industries and nature.'

Today Online 31 Mar 06
Preserving undersea treasures
Cheow Xin Yi

Singapore is well established in the world as the "little red dot" with many firsts.

Unknown to most Singaporeans, however, is the fact that the waters off the island also sustain some of the most biologically-diverse natural reefs in the world.

But Singapore's coral reefs are threatened by economic developments such as land reclamation projects.

In a bid to protect this hidden treasure trove, a group of marine scientists, dive professionals and environmentalists have embarked on a marine conservation project. The Singapore Underwater Federation is planning an ambitious project, called Nurturing Our Aquatic Heritage (Noah), which aims to build a coral reef in the lagoon at Pulau Hantu.

They are also planning to move corals from other reefs to the island.

While there have been other conservation efforts, this is the biggest and most ambitious project to date, with funds of up to $100,000 provided by sponsors. The project will end in 2008.

Channel NewsAsia 30 Mar 06
Singapore Underwater Federation to build coral reef at Pulau Hantu
By Sharon See, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Divers may have every reason to rejoice. The Singapore Underwater Federation is looking into developing a coral reef on the southern island of Pulau Hantu.

Contrary to common belief, Singapore has natural reefs on its offshore islands.

And the Singapore Underwater Federation is planning an ambitious project, called NOAH for Nurturing Our Aquatic Heritage, which aims to build a coral reef in the lagoon enclosed by Pulau Hantu.

They are also planning to move corals from other reefs to the island.

Mr Sydney Chew, Member of Singapore Underwater Federation, says: "Everybody that's involved in this project, from the engineers to the scientists, as well as conservationists have said it's doable, so I believe it is very possible that we can get this project on the road."

For the next few months, they will first conduct studies on the reefs around Pulau Hantu with a budget of $100,000.

Dr Geh Min, President of the Nature Society, says much can be done in marine conservation, and the young should be roped in to learn this lesson. She says: "What I hope is that as the project proceeds, young Singaporeans will not be just spectators, they can actually participate. I think this is very important. If you want to use nature as a teacher, taking a specimen into a classroom is very different from taking the student going out into a nature area. "

Project NOAH is expected to be completed by 2008.

Singapore Business Times 31 Mar 06
New Singapore diving hotspot in the pipeline
By Sim Ping Khuan

MARINE life enthusiasts in Singapore can look forward to the possibility of a new diving hotspot around Pulau Hantu in the near future.

A team of environmentalists, marine scientists and dive professionals, led by the Singapore Underwater Federation, is spearheading an ambitious conservation effort called Project Noah, or Naturing Our Aquatic Heritage.

According to Noah project manager Spencer Lewis, the coral reefs found at Pulau Hantu stretches only up to 3.2 km. This is modest compared with Australia's Great Barrier Reef which runs over 2,000 km.

But Mr Lewis explains that the corals found near the island are surprisingly rich in variety. Pulau Hantu, to the south of Singapore, is about a tenth the size of Sentosa.

The project team aims to preserve and rescue the coral reefs from further environmental degradation. Mr Lewis adds that many Singaporeans are not aware that Pulau Hantu hosts a diverse marine habitat, and says that part of the project will involve educating the public to lend support to this marine conservation effort.

The project's first phase will commence shortly, and Mr Lewis says that this will involve the surveying of reefs around the island, and collecting data for scientific study.

Mr Lewis sees the likelihood of Project Noah developing into a lucrative business. Eventually, he intends to turn the island into Singapore's first diving hotspot, if the scientific study proves that such an enterprise is possible.

'We want to provide a safe place where people can dive to see the amazing marine diversity that Singapore has,' he says
Links
 About the project and the issues it raises on wildsingapore
What can you see at Hantu? on wildsingapore
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